Autism Delaware

10/10/2026

It's almost time for the CASSI™ 24th Annual Autism Conference, presented by the Kennedy Krieger Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation (CASSI™), held virtually on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. This year's conference is centered on the theme, Celebrating Neurodiversity, Driving Change, and will bring together leading experts, advocates, families, educators, clinicians, and community partners for a day of learning, connection, and inspiration.

Through engaging keynote presentations, dynamic breakout sessions, and meaningful discussions, attendees will gain practical insights, discover innovative approaches, and strengthen their ability to support autistic individuals and their families.

Conference Highlights:
• Dynamic keynote speakers
• Engaging breakout sessions
• Opportunities to earn CEUs
• Group discounts available

Register today: https://web.cvent.com/event/f9990ac3-4583-487b-87af-8390468cb1a8/summary

10/09/2026

📚 Literacy is More Than Just Books!
Join us for our next Power in Our Voices event as we explore how literacy impacts every part of our lives—from healthcare and employment to finances, technology, self-advocacy, and everyday life. Literacy Awareness Month POIV S…
We are excited to welcome back Tina and Mateo Moreno, who presented at the 2025 LIFE Conference! Together, Tina and Mateo bring professional and lived experiences in literacy, AAC, communication, and assistive technology. Their combined experiences help demonstrate what is possible when people with disabilities have access to the right tools, instruction, opportunities, and expectations to learn. They will share Comprehensive Literacy for All, an approach for helping students with a wide range of disabilities develop critical literacy skills they can use inside and outside the classroom. Literacy Awareness Month POIV S…
This event is for individuals with disabilities, family members, educators, legislators, professionals, advocates, and anyone who wants to learn more. Everyone has the right to learn how to read, including people who learn or communicate differently and people who use assistive technology.
📅 Wednesday, November 4, 2026
⏰ 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
📍 Delaware State Troopers Association
500 Messina Hill Road, Dover, DE Literacy Awareness Month POIV S…
🍽️ Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be provided.
♿ Need an accommodation to participate? Please include your accommodation request when registering.
Register today:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YB956PM
Literacy is for everyone. Literacy is everywhere. Literacy is more than just books.

Image Description: Power in Our Voices event flyer promoting a November 4, 2026 literacy event in Dover. The flyer features diverse people with and without disabilities using books, tablets, and assistive technology and highlights literacy as more than reading and writing, including health, technology, finances, employment, and self-advocacy.

10/08/2026

🌟 Beyond Awareness: Creating Spaces Where Everyone Belongs

Awareness is important, but real inclusion requires action!

Join us at the 2027 LIFE Conference: From Advocacy to Action for an interactive discussion about creating spaces where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and included!

This session will focus on real inclusion in everyday places like restaurants, recreation spaces, and local businesses. Awareness is important, but it does not always lead to change. This session will share simple, practical ways to make spaces more welcoming for everyone. Participants will learn, share ideas, and take part in open discussions. Families and people with disabilities will help guide the conversation by sharing their experiences. Two organizations with inclusive practices will briefly share what they do and what they have learned. This will show how inclusion can work in real life. To extend the impact, ideas discussed during the session may also be shared with community groups, businesses, and government agencies. The goal is to connect families, organizations, and businesses so that real experiences lead to meaningful change.

🎤 Featured Speakers:

Kurtis Cherry – Sales Associate, Goodwill Rodney Village

Zoey DePrisco – Store Manager, Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County

Casey Reynolds, MS – Director of Sales and Engagement, Dover YMCA

📅 January 27, 2027
📍 Bally’s Dover Conference Center

💬 Your experiences and ideas matter! Be part of the conversation and help turn awareness into meaningful action in our communities.

🎟️ Register today and reserve your spot at the 2027 LIFE Conference!

🔗 https://lifeconferencede.org/registration/

10/06/2026

There are still limited tickets available for Friday's Trunk or Treat. Grab them now before they run out!

🎃 Our annual Trunk or Treat is NEXT FRIDAY! 🎃

👻 Friday, October 9th, 2026 • 5:30 - 7:30pm
🏍️ Rommel Harley-Davidson, Smyrna

Get ready for a spooktacular event full of fun, treats, and excitement at our Trunk or Treat! Guests can visit trunks decorated with various fun themes and receive candy and other goodies. Non-candy giveaways are also available.

Advance registration is required and will close on 10/8, so don't wait! Get your tickets at https://pro.gofundme.com/event/trunk-or-treat-2026/e830241.

10/06/2026

Heading into your child's next IEP meeting, starting with a clear picture of your own priorities makes all the difference. Before you walk in, take a moment to write down your perspective:

▪️What's working well right now?
▪️Where are the current struggles?
▪️What specific progress do you hope to see this year?
▪️Which supports do you want the team to focus on?

Bringing your own notes, real-life examples from home, and questions about how goals will be measured ensures the plan is anchored in what matters most to you and your child. If specific challenges (such as classroom transitions, for example) are getting in the way, your input helps the team build realistic, applicable solutions.

You don't have to navigate special education alone. Autism Delaware's Family Support team is here to help you prepare your questions and advocate with confidence.

Connect with our team at autismdelaware.org/family-support

10/05/2026

Autism Delaware's Empowered Connections series connects individuals with autism together with their parents/caregivers and professionals to share information and resources to help families achieve positive outcomes on their autism journeys.

Join us to learn all about voting in Delaware! Did you ever wonder how people know where to go to vote, who to vote for, why are you voting, and how to register? Come learn where to start and how it all works. Our guest speaker from ACLU Delaware will share tips and information to help you get prepared.

This session takes place on Wed, Oct 14, 2026 @ 11:30 AM.

Advance registration is required. Sign up today at https://bit.ly/4rKHSLV.

10/04/2026

Family SHADE's Learning Community is comprised of free, one-hour workshops tailored to Delaware families of children and youth with special healthcare needs. Workshops center around topics of Medical Home and Transition to Adult Healthcare.

All interested community members are welcome to attend. Registration is required. Register today at www.cds.udel.edu/familyshade

10/03/2026

The University of Delaware is looking for research volunteers to help design a mobile health intervention to enhance physical activity and social connectedness among families with transition-age autistic youth. The study runs from mid-October through mid-December.

Please contact Lia McNulty, MS, at [email protected] for more info or to participate.

10/02/2026

🎃 Our annual Trunk or Treat is NEXT FRIDAY! 🎃

👻 Friday, October 9th, 2026 • 5:30 - 7:30pm
🏍️ Rommel Harley-Davidson, Smyrna

Get ready for a spooktacular event full of fun, treats, and excitement at our Trunk or Treat! Guests can visit trunks decorated with various fun themes and receive candy and other goodies. Non-candy giveaways are also available.

Advance registration is required and will close on 10/8, so don't wait! Get your tickets at https://pro.gofundme.com/event/trunk-or-treat-2026/e830241.

10/01/2026

October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. One in five US children will face bullying at some point in their lives and those with special needs experience this at a much higher rate. We encourage the community to:

• support others who have been hurt or harmed
• treat others with kindness
• be more accepting of people’s dierences
• help include those who are left out

Learn more at https://www.stopbullying.gov/blog/2020/10/21/october-national-bullying-prevention-awareness-month